Summary
Persona 3 Reload’s treatment of Fuuka Yamagishi is one area wherePersona 6would do well to replicate it. While Fuuka was a part ofPersona 3since the original version of the game,Persona 3 Reload’s use of the character is what should be looked at for the future. While she is still largely the same character in terms of storyline and personality, some significant changes were made gameplay-wise. Fuuka’s incarnation inPersona 3 Reloadis her most notable among the game’s releases, and it’s one that should be studied in further detail beforePersona 6comes out.
Fuuka is one of thenavigators of thePersonaseries, a recurring trend since her debut inPersona 3. Unlike the other party members, navigators' Personas are not suited for combat, so they act as a sort of mission control for the party. They scan the area and provide information on enemy Shadows. In addition, they also call out important information such as when an ally is low on health, or reminding the player of a Shadow’s strengths and weaknesses. The navigator’s role is an important one in the games, andPersona 6is almost certain to feature a navigator of its own.
There is one important distinction that makesFuuka inPersona 3 Reloadstand out from past navigators, including her own previous incarnation. Typically, navigators' abilities are automated, such as preemptive scans and healing after battle. InPersona 3 Reload, Fuuka has abilities that can be triggered at the player’s command, although they cost SP just like any other character’s abilities. These include stopping enemies from detecting the party, instantly escaping Tartarus, revealing the floor’s full layout, and more. These abilities expanded Fuuka’s role beyond what a navigator has typically done in the series, and they are quite useful to have on hand.
EveryPersonagame sincePersona 3has had an initial temporary navigator that joins the playable party after recruiting the real navigator.
Fuuka’s role as the team’s navigator is a prime example of something thatPersona 3 Reloaddid better thanPersona 5. In addition to the usefulness of her new skills, it makes Fuuka feel like a more active member of the team than past installments. In past games, the navigator’s role has primarily been to passively provide information to the party. WithPersona 3 Reload, Fuuka can affect the map and the shadows on it on her own terms. While she’s not directly taking part in the fight, she gets more to do than past navigators, and sets an example thatPersona 6can follow.
Persona 6’s Navigator Can Have Even More Skills Than Before
Creating another navigator in the same vein asPersona 3 Reload’s Fuuka would have plenty of advantages. Depending on thedesign ofPersona 6’s dungeons, there could be even more navigator abilities introduced. For example, the navigator could let players see the Shadows in question before starting a fight, giving them vital information beforehand. Inspiration could also be taken from Fuuka’s powerful Shock Noise skill to inflict other status conditions such as fear or confusion. There are a lot of new ways thatPersona 6’s navigator could affect the game, provided the developers are willing to experiment further with the idea.
Persona 3 Reload’s incarnation of Fuuka Yamagishi would make an excellent model for futurePersonanavigators to follow. Not only would it be one of the best thingsPersona 6could learn fromPersona 3 Reload, but it gives navigators a much greater role. AfterPersona 3 Reloadhandled the idea of a navigator with more abilities so well,Persona 6has the chance to come up with its own powers that its navigator can have. Fuuka’s influence can have a strong positive effect on the design ofPersona 6.
Persona 3 Reload
WHERE TO PLAY
Step into the shoes of a transfer student thrust into an unexpected fate when entering the hour “hidden” between one day and the next. Awaken an incredible power and chase the mysteries of the Dark Hour, fight for your friends, and leave a mark on their memories forever.Persona 3 Reload is a captivating reimagining of the genre-defining RPG, reborn for the modern era.Experience the pivotal game of the Persona series faithfully remade with cutting-edge graphics, modernized quality-of-life features, and signature stylish UI. Fully immerse yourself in an emotional, gripping journey with new scenes, character interactions, and additional voiceover. Choose how to meaningfully spend each day through various activities from exploring the Port Island to forging genuine bonds with beloved characters. Build and command your optimal team to take down otherworldly Shadows and climb closer to the truth.
